System and Method for Streaming Sequential Data Through an Automotive Switch Fabric

1. A method for sending a record from an external diagnostic device through a switch fabric of a vehicle communication network, the switch fabric including a plurality of nodes joined by communication links for transmission of data packets therebetween, wherein the external diagnostic device is connected to the switch fabric of the vehicle communication network, and wherein the record comprises message data, the method comprising the steps of: generating from the record, at the external diagnostic device, a first data packet comprising a first message identification, a first sequence number, and a plurality of first data elements, the plurality of first data elements containing at least a first portion of the message data in the record, wherein the message data in the record is larger than a packet size limitation of the switch fabric of the vehicle communication network, and wherein the first data packet containing the first portion of the message data in the record is within the packet size limitation of the switch fabric of the vehicle communication network; generating from the record, at the external diagnostic device, a second data packet comprising a second message identification, a second sequence number, and a plurality of second data elements, the plurality of second data elements containing at least a second portion of the message data in the record, wherein the second data packet containing the second portion of message data in the record is within the packet size limitation of the switch fabric of the vehicle communication network; transmitting the first data packet and the second data packet from the external diagnostic device to a target node in the switch fabric of the vehicle communication network; and receiving the first data packet and the second data packet at the target node and assembling at least the first portion of the message data and the second portion of the message data based on the first and second message identifications and the first and second sequence numbers.

2. The method in claim 1 , wherein the message data includes software components for reprogramming a portion of memory in the target node.

3. The method in claim 1 , wherein the first data packet comprises a header portion, a payload portion, and a trailer portion, the payload portion containing the first message identification, the first sequence number, and the plurality of first data elements.

4. The method in claim 1 further comprising the step of: generating from the record, at the external diagnostic device, a third data packet comprising a third message identification, a third sequence number, and a plurality of third data elements, the plurality of third data elements containing at least a third portion of the message data in the record and a checksum for the message data, wherein the third data packet containing the third portion of message data in the record is within the packet size limitation of the switch fabric of the vehicle communication network, and wherein the step of assembling includes assembling the first, second, and third portions of the message data based on the first, second, and third message identifications and on the first, second, and third sequence numbers.

5. The method in claim 1 , wherein the target node comprises a memory having an erasable memory portion and a protected memory portion, the method further comprising the steps of: erasing data in the erasable memory portion; and storing at least the assembled first portion of the message data and the second portion of message data in the erasable memory portion.

6. A method for sending a record from an external diagnostic device through a switch fabric of a vehicle communication network, the switch fabric including a plurality of nodes joined by communication links for transmission of data packets therebetween, wherein the external diagnostic device is connected to the switch fabric of the vehicle communication network, and wherein the record comprises message data, the method comprising the steps of: generating from the record, at the external diagnostic device, a first data packet comprising a message identification associated with the record, a command, and a message length; generating from the record, at the external diagnostic device, a second data packet comprising the message identification associated with the record, a first sequence number, and a plurality of first data elements, the plurality of first data elements containing at least a first portion of the message data in the record, wherein the message data in the record is larger than a packet size limitation of the switch fabric of the vehicle communication network, and wherein the second data packet containing the first portion of message data in the record is within the packet size limitation of the switch fabric of the vehicle communication network; generating from the record, at the external diagnostic device, a third data packet comprising the message identification associated with the record, a second sequence number, and a plurality of second data elements, the plurality of second data elements containing at least a second portion of the message data in the record, wherein the third data packet containing the second portion of message data in the record is within the packet size limitation of the switch fabric of the vehicle communication network; transmitting the first, second, and third data packets from the external diagnostic device to a target node in the switch fabric of the vehicle communication network; and receiving the first, second, and third data packets at the target node and assembling at least the first portion of the message data and the second portion of the message data based on the message identification associated with the record and the first and second sequence numbers.

7. The method in claim 6 , wherein the message data includes software components for reprogramming a portion of memory in the target node.

8. The method in claim 6 , wherein the second and third data packets each comprise a header portion, a payload portion, and a trailer portion, the payload portions containing the message identification associated with the record, the first and second sequence numbers, and the plurality of the first and second data elements.

9. The method in claim 6 further comprising the step of: generating from the record, at the external diagnostic device, a fourth data packet comprising the message identification associated with the record, a third sequence number, and a plurality of third data elements, the plurality of third data elements containing at least a third portion of the message data in the record, wherein the fourth data packet containing the third portion of message data in the record is within the packet size limitation of the switch fabric of the vehicle communication network, and wherein the step of assembling includes assembling the first, second, and third portions of the message data based on the message identification associated with the record and on the first, second, and third sequence numbers.

10. The method in claim 6 , wherein the target node comprises a memory having an erasable memory portion and a protected memory portion, the method further comprising the steps of: erasing data in the erasable memory portion; and storing at least the assembled first portion of the message data and the second portion of message data in the erasable memory portion.